Electrical connector apparatus



y 1965 H. J. TENNlSWOOD 3,184,702

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR APPARATUS Filed Nov. 1, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR HOWARD J. TENNISWOOD f I BY a wmmm em g 1 y 1965 H. J. TENNISWOOD 3,184,702

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR APPARATUS Filed Nov. 1, 1962 3 Sheets-Shegt 2 INVENTOR. HOWARD J. TENNISWOOD y 13, 1965 H. J- TENNISWOOD 3,184,702

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR APPARATUS Filed Nov. 1. 1962 s Sheets-Sheet s United States Patent Office 3,184,792 Patented May 18, 1965 3,184,762 ELECTRIAL CONNECT'GR APPARATU Howard J. Tenniswood, Adrian, Mich, assignor to Revco, Inc., Deer-field, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Filed Nov. 1, 1962, Ser. No. 234,755 Claims. (til. 339-66) This invention relates to electrical connector apparatus in general and, in particular, to such apparatus when used for making connections in a blind area.

With the advent of detachable power units it has become desirable to furnish power to these units via an electrical connecting means between the detachable power units and the stationary unit from which it is detached. Thus the power units can be detached for service, testing, etc., without disturbing the electrical connections of the stationary unit. In order to most efiiciently utilize electrical connections between the detachable power units and the stationary units the electrical connection should not have trailing c-ord means which can become entangled, broken, or otherwise interfere with the free detachability of the unit. Further, the electrical connection is usually in a blind area so that the Serviceman or installer cannot see normal electrical connections to line them up to make contact.

It is, accordingly, an object of this invention to provide improved electrical connector apparatus.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved electrical connector apparatus which may be utilized on detachable power units and disposed in blind areas wherein the electrical connector apparatus must provide its own aligning and positioning without benefit of aid from the one installing the detachable power unit.

In accordance with the above objects there is described herein electrical connector apparatus which may comprise a first element having a non-circular aperture formed therein, the perimeter of the aperture being chamfered to provide guide surfaces. A second element is utilized having a projection with an end adapted to be inserted into the aperture of the first element, the rojection hav ing a cross section substantially identical in shape and area to the figure defined by the perimeter of the aperture. Successive parallel cross sections of the projection toward the end thereof maintain substantially the same shape and disposition with respect to an axis of the projection which is parallel to the direction of insertion. Means are provided for supporting one of the first and second elements so that cross sections of the projections toward the end thereof are in approximate alignment with the aperture. Means are also provided for supporting the elements to allow relative centering movement between the projection and the aperture. Means are then provided for attaching one contact means on the end of the projection and for carrying another contact means spaced from the aperture to contact said one contact means when the projection is inserted into the aperture.

The above described electrical connector apparatus may be modified by providing a second element having a projection with successive cross sections of said projection toward the end thereof retaining substantially the same shape and disposition, with respect to an axis of the projection which is parallel to the direction of insertion. A first of the cross sections is substantially identical in shape and area to the figure defined by the perimeter of the aperture formed in the first element. The successive cross sections of the projection then diminish in area to provide a guide means with respect to the side of the aperture.

The invention disclosed herein may also be described as a first element having a cavity formed therein wherein the cavity has a mouth with a non-circular perimeter.

The cavity has successive similar cross sections normal to an axis of insertion of a projection of the second element, each of the successive cross sections diminishing regularly in area. The end of the projection may be formed substantially in the same shape and area as the smallest of the successive cross sections of the cavity to provide axial guiding. In this modification means are provided for attaching one contact means on the end of the projection while means for carrying another contact means are provided at the bottom of the cavity.

More specifically there is described and disclosed herein electrical connector apparatus in a preferred embodiment which comprises a first element having a cavity formed therein wherein the inner surface of the cavity defines a first truncated pyramid. A second element having a pro jection wherein the outer surface of the projection defines a second truncated pyramid adapted to be inserted into and mate with the cavity. The mouth of the cavity is chamfered to guide the projection into the cavity. Means are provided for supporting the elements to allow relative centering movements between the projection and the cavity which comprise flange means on one of the elements extending normally with respect to the direction of insertion and confining the movement in said normal direction only between bearing means which are shown as bearing plates. An electrical plug means is supported by one of the element-s and an electrical socket means is supported by the other of the elements in position to receive the plug means when theprojection is inserted into the cavity. Male guide means are attached to one of the plug and socket means and extends toward the other of the plug and socket means during insertion. Female guide means are formed in the other of the plug and socket means and adapted to receive said male guide means. The first element has an aperture formed in the rear of the truncated pyramid cavity to receive one of the plug and socket means. The received one of the plug and socket means comprises an electrical contact means supported in a body of insulating material. The body of insulating material may be secured in place in the aperture by a potting compound. Similarly, the projection of the second element may be hollowed to receive the other of the plug and socket means, the body of the insulating material of the plug or socket means received by the hollow and the projection being secured in place in the hollow projection by a potting compound.

Other objects, advantages, and features of this invention will become apparent when the following description is taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded plan view of the elements embodying the features of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded side view in section taken along lines IIII of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an assembled view from the side of the elements shown in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4a and 4b are detailed illustrations of the plug means;

FIGS. 5a, 5b and 5c are detailed views of the socket means utilized herein;

FIG. 6 is an end view of the plug case utilized herein;

FIG. 7 is an end view of the socket case utilized herein; and

FIG. 8 is an end view of the socket case support housing utilized herein.

Referring to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 3, there is shown an electrical connector apparatus which comprises a plug case 10, a plug means 20, a socket case 30, a socket means 40, and a socket case support housing 50.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 2, 3 and 6, it is shown that the plug case comprises and element having an attaching flange 11, apertures 12 to secure the flange to a wall 79 of a stationary unit, a non-circular chamfered aperture or cavity opening 13, walls 14 and a rear end 15, the inner surfaces of which define a truncated-pyramid shaped cavity, and an aperture 16 formed in the rear wall 15. It is to be noted that successive cross sections of the cavity, starting with the cross section defined by the mouth of the cavity are substantially the same in shape'while diminishing regularly in' area.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 in particular, there is shown 'a plug means 20 which comprises an insulating body 23 having supported therein contact means. Of these contact means terminals project from the rear for making permanent electrical connections thereto. Male terminals 21 project from the front adapted to be received by female terminals in the socket means. A male guide means 22 having a chamfered end projects past the terminals 21 and is adapted to be received by a female guide means in the, socket means. A ridge 24 formed on the body of insulating material provides a seating means so that the body of insulating material may be inserted up to the ridge 24 in the aperture 16 formed in the rear wall 15 of the plug case 10. 'The plug means 20 maybe secured in place in the plug case 10 by means of an epoxy or other potting compound as shown at 17 in FIG. 3.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 7 in particular, there is shown a socket case which comprises an element having flanges 31 extending normally from a direction of insertion of a projection formed by walls 34 and a rear wall 35 into the cavity of plug case 10. As is most apparent in FIGS. 1 and 2, the walls 34 and the real wall 35 form an exterior surface which defines a truncated pyramid adapted to be received and to mate with the cavity of element It An aperture 36 is formed in the rear wall 35 of the projection of the element 30 to receive a socket means 40.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 in particular, there is shown a socket means designated generally at 40 comprising a body of insulating material 43 supporting female contact members 41 in recesses formed therein and externally extending permanent connector terminals 45. A female guide recess 42 is formed in the face of the socket means to receive the male guide means 22 of the plug means 10. A ridge or other stop means 44 is formed on the sides of the body 43 of insulating material so that when the socket means 40 is inserted through the aperture 36 formed in the rear wall 35 of the element 30 the ridge means 43 can rest against the rear wall 35 and the socket means can be securely attached in place by use of an epoxy or other potting compound as designated at 37 in FIG. 3. It is to be noted that the projection has one cross section substantially identical in shape and area with respect to the cross section defined by the non-circular aperture or mouth of the cavity of element 10. Successive cross sections of the projection toward the end thereof maintained substantially the same shape as said one cross section while diminishing regularly in area. 7

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and Sin particular, there is shown a support housing 50 for the socket case 30. The support housing 50 may also act as a terminal box and as such is provided with a terminal outlet means 54 to accommodate wires that are to be permanently attached to the terminal means 45 of the socket means 40. The rear face of the housing means is recessed at 51 to receive the flange means 31 of thesocket case 30. The depression formed by the recessing at 51 is formed larger than the extension of the flange means. 31 so that the flange 31 of the socket case .30 may move upwardly and P downwardly or laterally in the depression in the direction normal to :the housing means5ii. The socket case support housing 50 is to be attached to a wall at of the detachable power unit by, for example, screw means 160, as shown in FIG. 3 By the attachment of the socket case support housing 50 to the walls as of the detachable power unit, the wall 60 and the wall 52 of the. depressed portion of the rear face of the housing cooperate to form two bearing surfaces or points between which the socket case 30 is held by its flange 31 for movement normal to the direction of insertion of the socket case'30 into the plug case 10. An aperture 52 is formed in the rear face of the housing 50 to allow passage of connecting wires to the socket means 40.

Having thus described the preferred embodiments of the components utilized in this invention, reference to FIG. .3 shows the assembled components. It is apparent that the assembly as utilized may allow the making of electrical contacts from a blind area since the charnfered aperture of the plug case cavity, the truncated pyramid inner surface of the cavity of plug case 10 and outer surface of the projection of element 30, the male guide means 22 of the plug means 20 and the female recess guide means 42 of the socket means 40, and the laterally movable support means provided by the flange 31 of the socket case 33 in the cooperating bearing surfaces provided'by the socket case supporting housing 50 and the wall 60 of the detachable portable unit, all cooperate to insure that an electrical connection can be made in a blind area with the connection being keyed by the various surfaces so that the proper terminals of the plug and socket are brought together and so that no binding will occur during the process of bringing same together.

Having thus described and disclosed a preferred embodiment for practicing the invention, it is to be noted that the embodiments described and disclosed herein are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting in any sense. The embodiments serve merely to illustrate the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having described the invention, I claim:

1. Electrical connector apparatus comprising a first element having a cavity formed therein, theinner surface of said cavity defining a first truncated pyramid; a second element having a projection, the outer surface of said projection defining a second truncated pyramid'adapted' to be inserted into and mate with said cavity; means supporting said elements to allow relative lateral centering movements between said projection and said cavity comprising flange means on one of said elements extending normally with respect to the direction of insertion and bearing surface means adapted to receive said flange means and confine movement of said flange means in said normal direction; an electrical plug means supported by one of said elements; and an electrical socket means supported by the other of said elements and positioned to receive said plug means when said projection is inserted into said cavity.

2. Electrical connector apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the mouth of said cavity is chamfered to guide said projection into said cavity.

3. Electrical connector apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which a male guide means having a tapered end is attached to one-of said plug and socket means and extends toward the other of said plug and socket means during insertion, and in which a female guide means is formed in the other of said plug and socket means and adapted to receive said male guide means. 7

4. An electrical connector apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said first element has an aperture formed in the rear of the truncated pyramid to receive one of said plug and socket means; said received one of said plug and socket means comprising electrical contact means supported in a body of insulating material; said body of insulating material being secured in place in said aperture by a potting compound.

5. An electrical connector apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said projection of said second element has been hollowed to receive one of said plug and socket means; said received one of said plug and socket means comprising electrical contact means supported in a body 5 6 of insulating material; said body of insulating material 2,944,240 7/60 Barber 33966 X being secured in place in said hollowed projection by a 2,984,814 5/61 Scott 339-66 X potting compound. 3,091,748 5/ 63 Takes et a1 339-64 X 3,094,364 6/63 Lingg 339--64 References Clted by the Exammer 5 FOREIGN PATENTS UNITED STATES PATENTS 108,720 10/39 Australia. 2,396,871 3/46 Meyerhans 33992 X 2,939,102 5/60 Johnson 339-66 X JOSEPH D. SEERS, Primary Examiner. 

1. ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR APPAATUS COMPRISING A FIRST ELEMENT HAVING A CAVITY FORMED THEREIN, THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID CAVITY DEFINING A FIRST TURNCATED PYRAMID; A SECOND ELEMENT HAVING A PROJECTION, THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID PROJECTION DEFINING A SECOND TRUNCATED PYRAMID ADAPTED TO BE INSERTED INTO AND MATE WITH SAID CAVITY, MEANS SUPPORTING SAID ELEMENTS TO ALLOW RELATIVE LATERAL CENTERING MOVEMENTS BETWEEN SAID PROJECTION AND SAID CAVITY COMPRISING FLAME MEANS ON ONE OF SAID ELEMENTS EXTENDING NORMALLY WITH RESPECT TO THE DIRECTION O INSERTION AND BEARING SURFACE MENS ADAPTED TO RECEIVE SAID FLANGE MEANS AND CONFINE MOVEMENT OF SAID FLANGE MEANS IN SAID NORMAL DIRECTION; AN ELECTRICAL PLUG MEANS SUPPORTED BY ONE OF SAID ELEMENTS; AND AN ELECTRICAL SOCKET MEANS SUPPORTED BY THE OTHER OF SAID ELEMENTS AND POSITIONED TO RECEIVE SAID PLUG MEANS WHEN SAID PROJECTION IS INSERTED INTO SAID CAVITY. 